Means for supporting and operating stirrers for glass in a forehearth



Nov. 1v1, 1952l l E. T. Ross 2,617,636 MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A.N D OPERATING STIRRERS l Foa. GLAss 1N A' FOREHEARTH Filed Jan. 1o, 195o SHEETS-SHEET 1 Flea EDWARD. T. Ross By AT TOR NEYS Nov. l1, 1952 E.n T. Ross MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ANO OPERATING sTIRRERs Filed Jan. 1o, 195o- FOR GLASS IN A FOREHEARTH 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVNTOR EDWARD T. Ross ATTORNEYS- Patented Nov. 11, 1952 MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND OPERATING STIRRERS FOR GLASS IN A FOREHEARTH Edward T.V Ross, Granby, Conn., assignor to Emhart Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Delaware Application January 10, 1950, Serial No. 137,700 4 claims. (C1. 259-104) This invention relates to improvements in means for operatively supporting and rotating a vertical stirrer or stirrers for molten glass in a forehearth.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means of the character described having conveniently and quickly usable means to raise the stirrer or stirrers to a level above the forehearth when desired for examination or removal thereof and for returning the stirrer or stirrers or replacements thereof to operative position in the forehearth.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means of the character described having a stirrer operating mechanism which is constructed and arranged to rotate the stirrers when they are in their lowered working position in a forehearthv and automatically to stop their rotation when they are raised from their working position. V

A still further object of the invention is the provision in means of the character described of means automatically to limit the upward and downward movements of the stirrers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention hereinafter will be pointed out or will Ibecome apparent from the following description of a practical embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

Figure l .is a fragmentary plan View of a portion of a glass forehearthequipped with stirrers and stirrer operating and supporting means embodying the invention; Y i Y Fig. 2 is a Ytransverse vertical section through the'portion of the forehearth shown in Fig. l with the stirrers and their supporting and operating means shown in front elevation;

Fig. 3 is a relatively enlarged view, mainly in vertical section and partly in elevation, of means to raise and lower a stirrer spindle supporting arm of the stirrer supporting mechanism and associated means for rotating the stirrers;

' Fig. 4 is a plan view of an end portion of the stirrer spindle supporting arm and of a cooperative upright guideway member for such arm, showing also A elements of the stirrer rotating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a still further enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a clutch which is included in the stirrer rotating mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the electrical mechanisms and connections of means for controlling the operations ofthe stirrer raisingand lowering and stirrer rotating mechanisms.`

`A fragmentary portion of a glass forehearth is 2 indicated generally at I in Fig. 1 and is shown in section in Fig. 2. This forehearth includes a refractory glass flow channel 2 which in use contains a stream of molten glass (not shown) in which depend the glass engaging lower end portions 3a of refractory glass stirrers 3. These glass stirrers 3 extend through a gap 4 in the roof 5 of a cover structure 6 of the forehearth. The channel 2 is disposed in'a metallic casing 'I from which it is spaced Iby suitable refractory and/or heat insulating material represented by blocks indicated at 8' in Fig. 2, as is usual in a conventional forehearth structure. The casing 1 may be supported by any suitable supporting means (not shown) The upper ends of the stirrers 3` project above the gap 4 in the forehearth roof and suitable pairs of relatively front and rear cover blocks 9 and I0, respectively, may be provided on the forehearth roof substantially to cover the top of the gap 4 around the upper end portions of the stirrers 3. The cover blocks 9 and I0 are cooperatively notched to define suitable circular openings, such as indicated at II, Figs. l and 2, having walls tting rather closely around the projecting upper end portions of the stirrers 3 when the cover blocks are closed as shown in that view. The glass engaging lower end portions 3a of the-stirrers are formed with spiral projections I2 thereon and when the stirrers are to be raised from the forehearth, the cover blocks 9 and I0 are moved apart to permit this operation.

The stirrers 3 are suspended by having their upper ends held in chucks I3 which are detachably connected by couplings I4 to the lower ends of vertical rotary 'spindles I5 which are operatively mounted on an overhanging stirrer spindle cross arm I6. This may be accomplished by use of suitable supporting bearings on the arm I6, as, for example, upper and lower` vertically aligned bearings I1 yand I8, respectively.

The stirrer spindle arm I6 has a supporting end portion Isa formed integrally with or operatively connected in any other suitable known way to the upper end of a generally vertical slidable carrier I9. The outer vertical side portion of the carrier I9 is generally T-shaped in transverse section as indicated at ISa, Fig. 4, and lits slidably in a vertical complementarily shaped guideway 29 in the adjacent side of an upright stationary support 2 I. The walls of the guideway 20 may include removable vertical gib strips 22, fastened in place by cap screws 23, to permit disassembly of the slidably associated part,

The stationary guideway member 2| extends upwardly from and may be joined integrally or otherwise to a housing 2li which is supported in a fixed position at one side of the forehearth channel. As shown in Fig. 2, the housing 24 is provided at its inner side with an upper bracket 25 attachedl by appropriate fastening means 2S to an outturned flange 27 at the upper edge of a side of the forehearth channel casing l'. Ihe housing 25 also may have lower attaching ears or portions, such as indicated at 23, attached by fastening means 29 to a supporting channel meinber 39 which in turn is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the adjacent side of the channel casing 1. The housing 24 has a bottom opening, as indicated at 24a, Fig. 3, so that a driven vertical shaft Sl may project thereinto frombelow. This shaft is driven by a speed reduction unit 32 which has an operatively driven connection with a reversible motor 33. The entire unit comprising the motor 33, the speed reduction unit 32 and. the upturned driven shaft 3l may beY supported.

in place by asuitable bracket Syrien the reducnon, gear unit attached, as by thefastening means 35, to the bottom. portion, of the housing 2li surrounding the opening 24a,

Within the housing 24, the upper end of the driven shaft 3| is connected by a suitable coupling 36 to the lower end of a vertical jack screw 3'! which extends upwardly within a vertical space 3S in the vertically movablercarrier i9 which is appropriately hollow. 11.1113, 33 through which the Jack screw 3l is threadedts in an opening 4E) in the lower end portion, of the hollow carrier I9 to which it is fixed by shitiblftening means 4I. It is apparent ,that rotationof the jack Screw 37. aboutus, axis .in one directonwill rais@ the Slidable. Carrier lpand. 'about its axis in the opposite direction will lowerl the carrier. The stirrer spindle armA l@ land the stirrers` suspended therefromY will inoye with the'carrier IS on its upward and downward I novemvents. The stirrer spindle arm, luhas affree end section, indicated at |612, Fig. 2, positionedinrpart inan open topped slot 42 in a laterally projecting bracket arm 4.3 011 astationary'uprisht .4i-at the side of the forehearth opposite theslide iwhen the arm i is in its loweredv position and the Stirfers 3 .are in, their operative. position, in the forehearth channel as shewn in Fig. 2.v At this time, a clampingserew i5 which is threaded through a side walleZLVA of the slot lig may be tightened by its handle or head portion lied against the portion of the stirrer spindle arm end section ltbin the slot to clamp the latter firmly against a projection 56 on the'Qpposite side wall 421) of the slot s o as tostabilize the position lof the stirrer spindle arm".` The clamping screw 55 will be loosened when the st irrer spindle arm is to be raised'. vvThe uprightllft may be carried by a suitable bracket Alll on the side of the forehearth casing 'i opposite the housing 24.

The upper ends of the strrer spindles I5 carry sprockets '48, A endless chain i9 is trained about these sprockets and about suitably located idle guiding sprockets l50 and 5l, respectively, on the arm H5 and a driven sprocket 5,2 on a driving spindle 53.v The Spindle 53 is rotatably mounted, as by upper and lower bearings 55 and 55, respectively, Vin a bearing box 56, Fig. 3, which is provided witha bracket portion 5l secured in place, as by cap screws 58, Figs. 3 and 4, on the attaching end portion a of the stirrer spindle arm i6. A chain tightening idle sprocket 59 may be adjustably mounted on the arm end` section 4 Ia, as by the slidably adjustable supporting means, indicated at 50, Fig. 4, to aid in guiding the chain de and to maintain it desirably taut. The mechanism for driving the spindle 53 to drive the chain i9 and the stirrer spindles I 5 comprises a motor e i, Fig. 3, connected by a speed reduction unit 52, an overload release clutch 63 and a universal joint 64 with a lower rod-like section 65 of a drive shaft which also includes a tubular upper section B6 connected by a universal joint 6l with the lower end of the spindle 53. The tubular upper section 65 ts slidably over the upper end and a substantial part of the length of the rod-.like section 65. A driven clutch element 63 of a clutch of a single jaw variety is xed on the lower end of the tubular upper section 66 in confronting relation to a cooperative driving clutch element 69 on the rod-like section 85. The clutch element 69 is mounted for limited sliding movement on the member E5, this movement being limited by. a conventional slotl and ein arrangement indicated. at la Se@ also Fig. 5. Rotation of the clutch element 59 on the rod-like member 65 is prevented by a spline 'li which is fast on the member 65, and fitsslidably in a SPneWaY 72 in. th.e,.c.1.l-1.tc.h elemellt: A QQIZI.' pression coil spring 'i3 is` disposed around the member 55 between the lower end portion ef` the clutch element 69 and a lower positionedwasher T4 or other abutment onthe member S5 and tends to maintain the clutch element ,631 continuously at the upper limit of its path of movementv on the member 55. The arrangement is suchthat whenY the carrier I9 is raised from its lowered position, shown by full lines in Fig. 3, as indicated by the dot-and-"dash line showing off its upper en d in vthe 'same view, theftub'ula'r 'section 66 of the drive shaft will be raised with il?, thereby movingthe clutch element 68 outof engagement with the clutch element 69 and`stopping rotation of the spindlle53 and hence ot thefs'tirrers. This will take plae'e'on a slight upward movement ofthe carrier `I9. "On a downward return movement of the'ca'rrier i9, the" clutch element 68 will be guided'into'engagement with the springpressed COOperativeclut'Qh'member 69 so that driving of the st irrers',will beresum'ed,

provided, of course,l thatthe motor G l is operation.

Raising and lowering Q fitliearm .Hi and Qf the stirrers suspendedv therefroni are facilitated by'. a counterweight 15, .Suspendedfromoneend of a cable 'I6 which passes over.shit-ably.spaced supporting and guiding sheaves 'Illand 13,gres pe tively, on an overheadsupprting framestruoture 'I9 above the Vforeheauth, the other endk of the Cable 'lsbelflg attached tothe middle portion of the arm I6, as by an attaching eye 89.-'

The upward and `downward movements of the stirrers are limited by suitable electrical-` controis for the reversible,elevating'iotoss. These include a double-throw limit' switei'l, 'nefs-L having a suitably positioned ,angular or two-armed operating member .8,2Y operable a projecting rigid actuator Qllhe carrierland a single-throw limit switch 84 havinga similar pivoted angular or two-armed operating member 35 operable by a projecting rigidactuator8:6, also on the carrier I9... The limit switch 8|-f has at Avone side a pair of spaced contacts 81V andffreslpeetively, connected by a wiretf. to one a push button run Switchs!) andV by a wire, 9i to one side of a push buttonfstop switchSZfi-.he other side of which is connected by. a Wire 93 to one of three main-power lines 94', 95 and 96,` respectively.` The other side of the limit switch 8| has two spaced contacts 91 and 98, respectively. The contact 91 is connected byl a wire 99 to one side of a lower push button switch |00. The

contact 98 is connected bythe wire 9| to the stop switch 92. I The limit switch 84 has two spaced contacts and |02, respectively. The contact I0| is connected by a wire |03 toene side` of a raise push button switch |04, The raise switch |04 and the lower switch |00 are operativelyA connected to raise contacter and interlock and lower contactor and interlock assemblies |05 and |06, respectively, of a known reversing switch. This, in the example shown, is manufactured by Allen-Bradley Co. fof Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is known as the Allen- Bradley reversing switch, style RT, size 00, Nema type 1, Bulletin '105. The run switch 90 controls a starter oontactor and interlock assembly |01 of a known starting switch, as for example, the Allen-Bradley starting switch, form 2, size 0, Nema type 1, Bulletin 709. The reversing switch and the starting switch are operatively connected with the power input lines 94,Y 95 and 96. The reversing switch is operatively connected with the elevating Amotor 33 'and the starting switch is operatively connected with the stirrer motor 6|. Any suitable or preferred arrangement of suitable electrical mechanisms and connections may be used to control the operations of the elevating and stirrer motors.

With the stirrers in their working positions down in the forehearth channel, the limit switch 8| will be closed through the contacts 81 and 88 and open at the -contacts 91-98. The limit switch 84 will be closed. The stirrer motor 6| will be running and the elevating motor 33 will be at rest. To elevate the stirrers, the operator may rst press the stop switch button, stopping the stirrer motor. Then by pressing the raise switch button, the motor 33 will be started to operate in the direction required to raise the carrier I9 and the stirrers from the fo-rehearth channel. If the operator should not first press the stop switch button, as is preferred, the upward movement of the carrier will be attended almost'immediately by stoppage ofthe stirrer motor since the actuator 83 will contact the switch operating member 82 of limit switch 8| so as to open the motor operating circuit which includes the contacts 81 and 88 when the carrier has traveled upward a very short distance, say approximately of an inch. This also will close the limit switch 8| through its contacts 91-98 to prepare it for subsequent use in lowering the carrier. The upward movement of the carrier I9 will continue until the actuator 86 opens the limit switch 84, thereby stopping the elevating motor. The stirrers will then be in their raised position and may be inspected and removed conveniently and replaced by new stirrers if required.

To lower the stirrers or their replacements, the operator presses the lower switch button and the elevating motor will be started in its reverse direction. The operating circuit to cause this operation includes the limit switch 8|, closed through its contacts 91-98. The carrier I9 will be lowered until the actuator 83 engages the second arm of the pivoted switch operating member 62 and opens the circuit at the contacts 91, 98 of the limit switch 8 I. This also will prepare the limit switch 8| for use in the operating circuit for the stirrer motor when the latter has been re-started byl closing `of the push button run switch.

By pressing the lower switch push button and the stop switch push button repeatedly and alternately, the control mechanism may be actuated to lower the stirrersl step-by-step a few inches at a time so that they will become gradually heated during their downward travel so as to eliminate heat shock. Y'

When the downward travel of the carrier I9 has ended, the stirrers will be in their fully. lowered working positions in the forehearthchannel. The operator may re-start the stirrer motor by pressing the buttonof the "run switch 99.

The several push button switches may be located in a push button switch` box conveniently mounted on the stationarysupport 2|, as indicated at |08 in Fig.` 2.

The levels at which the upward and downwar movements ofv the carrier will be stopped may be varied within limits, as by varying the levels at which the limit' switches will be tripped to stop travel of the carrier. This may be accomplished by mounting the limit switch actuators on the carrier by vertical slot and fastening screw arrangements such as indicated at |09 for actuator 86 in Fig. 2 or by vany other known or preferred height adjusting arrangement. i

The particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings and herein particularly described obviously may be altered and modiiied in ways which now will be obvious to those skilled in the art and I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the details of this embodiment.

I claim:

1. Supporting and operating means for an implement, comprising a supporting arm, rotary means mounted on said arm to suspend the implement from said arm to hang vertically therebelow when the arm is horizontal and for rotation about its own axis, a vertically movable carrier rigidly joined to one end of said arm, means 10- cated at one side of a forehearth to guide said carrier for vertical movements relative to the forehearth and for engagement with the carrier to maintain said arm substantially horizontal and in a transversely extending overhanging relation to the forehearth, driving means, including a reversible electric motor, operatively connected to the carrier to move it vertically at will to move the implement suspended from said arm between a lowered, working position in the forehearth and a raised position above the forehearth, other driving means, including a separate motor, connected to the rotary means mounted on said arm to rotate said implement about its axis when said implement is in its lowered, working position in the forehearth, and electric control means for said reversible electric motor, including limit switches, operable automatically to stop the operation of said reversible motor when the carrier has been moved to its raised and lowered positions, respectively.

2. Supporting and operating means for an implement, as deined by claim 1, wherein said carrier is hollow so as to provide a vertically extending space therein, and said driving means for the carrier includes a nut fast to the carrier at the lower end of said space and an upright jack screw having a driven connection with the reversible motor and threaded through said nut into said space in the carrier.

3. Supporting and, Operating means for an implement, as dened by claim 1 wherein said r0- tary means mounted on said arm comprises a.

rotary element adapted to be made fast. to the implement and co-axial therewith, and said driving means therefor comprises a rotary driving element carried by the supporting arm adjacent to the carrier, means connecting said rotary elements to impart rotation to the first When the second-named rotary element `is, rotated,4 a rotary shaft having an upper section operatively connected at its upper end with the second-named rotary element and a lower section operatively connected at its lower end with the second-named motor, said shaft sections telescopically overlapping each other, and cooperative clutch members respectively carried by the shaft sections in positions such that they are engaged with each other when the carrier is at the lower limit of its path of vertical movements and are disengaged when the carrier is raised from that position.

4, Supporting and operating means of the char- 25 acter described, comprising a horizontal supporting arm, a plurality of individually rotatable vertical spindles mounted on said horizontal supporting arm to carry implements in a transverse row in a forehearth when the arm is disposed in a transversely extending position above the forehearth at a predetermined level thereabove, a

8. vertically movable carrier rigidly joined to one endv of said arm, means located at one side of said f orehearth to guide said carrier f or vertical movements to move said arm between its said position and a relatively raised position to raise the implements completely above the forehearth, means,v including a reversible electric motor, operatively connected to said carrier to move it vertically between its said positions, other driving means, including a separate motor, having a driving connecton with all said spindles when said arm is in its first named position and electric control means for said reversible electric motor, including limit switches,y operable automatically to stop the operation of said reversible motor when the carrier has been moved to its raised and lowered positions', respectively.

` EDWARD T. ROSS.

REFERENCES CITED rIfhe following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 169,047 Schoeld Oct. 19, 1875 1,025,396 Hasburg May 7, 1912 1,488,941 Roxs Apr. 1, 1924 2,238,800. Mueller Apr. 15, 1941 2,304,772 Allardice et al. Dec. l5, 1942 2,372,862 Strauss et al. Apr. 3, 1945 2,467,809 Cannon et al Apr. 19, 1949 

